"By bringing us the inspiring and sometimes unsettling tales of Ellis Island, Vincent Cannato's American Passage helps us understand who we are as a nation."
-- Walter Isaacson "Never before has Ellis Island been written about with such scholarly care and historical wisdom. Highly recommended "
--Douglas Brinkley, bestselling author of The Wilderness Warrior The remarkable saga of America's landmark port of entry, from immigration post to deportation center to mythical icon.
Like a latter day Plymouth Rock, Ellis Island was the point of entry for many new Americans. During its heyday between 1892 and 1924, twelve million immigrants passed through its gates. For some, the nation's preeminent immigration inspection station marked the beginning of a new life. For others, it was the only time they would set foot in the United States, before being deemed unfit and sent back home. In American Passage, Vincent J. Cannato recounts the fascinating history of Ellis Island, from its early role as host to public hangings to its rebirth as a national monument. At its heart lies a question that is still relevant today -- is everyone entitled to enter the United States? American Passage reveals that the story of Ellis Island is ultimately the story of what it means to be an American. Vincent J. Cannato teaches history at the University of Massachusetts, Boston. He is the author of The Ungovernable City: John Lindsay and His Struggle to Save New York and has written for the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and the Washington Post. "Anyone with a stake or even a fleeting interest in the overhaul of the nation's immigration policies should read Vincent J. Cannato's American Passage ... Maybe no book can be definitive, but Mr. Cannato's comes close." -- New York Times--Kenneth T. Jackson, editor in chief, Encyclopedia of New York City
Like a latter day Plymouth Rock, Ellis Island was the point of entry for many new Americans. During its heyday between 1892 and 1924, twelve million immigrants passed through its gates. For some, the nation's preeminent immigration inspection station marked the beginning of a new life. For others, it was the only time they would set foot in the United States, before being deemed unfit and sent back home. In American Passage, Vincent J. Cannato recounts the fascinating history of Ellis Island, from its early role as host to public hangings to its rebirth as a national monument. At its heart lies a question that is st